Shades of Gray

Slavery was a key reason for the Civil War. Write an essay considering the different opinions about slavery in this book. What does the book generally seem to present about the institution of slavery?

Compare what the author reveals about Aunt Ella and Will’s mom. In what ways are they the same, and in what ways are they different? What accounts for these differences? How much of a role does the institution of slavery play in their differences?

How would you compare Will’s mental state at the beginning of the novel to that at the end? What changes has he undergone?

Research the hero’s journey. In what ways is Hank and Will’s walk to Uncle Jed’s house a hero’s journey? In what ways does it differ?

Explain the different attitudes characters have in the novel about the Civil War. Who has the most extreme views? Whose are most similar to and most different from the ones Will holds at the beginning of the novel?

Write an essay in which you trace the character development of Will Page from the beginning of the novel until the end. What has he learned? Explain what caused him to learn these different lessons.

How did Will’s family treat the people they enslaved? Research how other Southerners treated their enslaved workers. Will seems to believe that since they treated their enslaved workers well, enslaving people was not wrong. Explain whether you agree or disagree with this.

Will’s father’s enslaved man went with him to war. Research how common this was during the Civil War, and then explain what this says about the institution of slavery in general.